Revision 3 as of 2013-02-24 02:36:06

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MacBook 5,1 and Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring)



This page aims to describe the steps needed, to fully enable all features of the 1st Generation MacBook Unibody (release date: late 2008) when using Ubuntu 13.04, Raring.

IconsPage/terminal.png You can find out, what model you have by typing at the terminal:

sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name

  • If you have a different model, please go here and find the right wiki.

Overview

Anything not mentioned here probably already works out of the box. If not, please refer to the Ubuntu Apple Users forum.

  • Feature

    Support status

    Wireless (AirPort)

    Desktop Effects (Unity)

    Touchpad (appletouch)

    Keyboard functions (Brightness,volume,...)

    Fans

    Sound

    Suspend & Hibernate

    CD/DVD Writing

    Bluetooth

    External Monitor

    iSight

    Apple USB 56K Modem

    Apple Remote Control

(works out-of-the-box)
(works, with remarks)
(needs manual install)
(won't work)
(not yet documented)

Basic Installation Instructions

Common things about installing and maintaining Ubuntu on Intel-based Macs: Intel CPU-based Macintosh Generic Installation Instructions.

You can install Ubuntu by replacing MacOS as the installer offers you. This makes full disk encryption easy as you can use the corresponding install option. To decrease booting time do the following after you have installed the system: restart and hold the alt/option-key. Press enter while holding the control-button. This will decrease the time for the initial "lit-screen" from about 45 to 12 second.

Wireless (AirPort)

You need to check "Third-Party"-Software while installing or do the following afterwards:

Open and choose Broadcom STA in:

  • System -> Administration -> Additional Drivers

Desktop Effects (Unity)

You maybe want to enable the proprietary graphics driver.

Open and choose the NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver in:

  • System Settings -> Software & Updates -> Additional Drivers

Tested: Experimental NVIDIA ... from nvidia-experimental-310 (proprietary) After installing 310 you have to follow these steps to get you brightness-control-keys to work again: Brightness control not working- Ubuntu 12.04 LTS - Macbook pro 5,5.

Trackpad

Left-click, right-click (two finger-)use and basic trackpad work out of the box.

You can switch to two-finger-scrolling here:

  • System Settings -> Mouse & Touchpad